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PHYSICAL CULTURE IN AMHERST 
COLLEGE. 

To the Editors of the Amherst Student : — 

Whether any report upon Physical 
Culture was made by the Trustees, through 
their committee, (consisting of President 
Stearns, Henry Ward Beecher, and myself,) 
at the last Commencement, I know not, as 
I was absent at the time from the country. 
Having taken a deep interest in physical 
education for a long time, and attempted 
the last year particularly to post myself 
thoroughly, both at home and abroad, as to 
its present aspects and prospects, I beg the 
use of one of your pages to express the 
result of my observations and inquiries. 

It happens sometimes to institutions as 
to individuals, that they may have a good 
thing without fully appreciating it, and 
which it becomes their duty in some way to 
make known to others, though not in the 
spirit of rivalry or boasting. Such is the 
fact, in my opinion, with respect to Hygiene 
and Physical Culture in Amherst College. 
It is the only large educational institution 
in this country, and, I think, we may safely 
say, in the world, where the value and im- 
portance of properly caring for the body is 
officially recognized and enjoined. During 
an extensive tour in Europe, last season, 
I found nothing of the kind in England, 
France, Germany, or Prussia! In London 
I met with Prof. Gorgie from Sweden, and 
heard him give a lecture upon gymnastics, 
recounting the history and interest on the 
subject, as connected with education in 
Sweden, Germany, and other countries. I 
spent several days at Oxford, visited its 
famous gymnasium, and inquired carefully 
into its boating exercises, and found that 
these were all voluntary, that as far as the 
health and physical education of students 
were governed by any regulations or 
authority, the university as such was silent. 
This same fact is true in respect to the 
universities at Cambridge and at London, 

ind also, as far as I could learn, of all other 



.. 



large literary institutions in Great Britai 
But, how different is the state of things at 
Amherst. This college has now had for 
twelve years a distinct department of 
Physical Culture, established upon the same 
high ground as that of Mathematics or 
Classics. We have among its teachers and 
professors a thoroughly educated physician 
as guardian of the health of the institution, 
to see that the laws of Hygiene are observed, 
to watch over the physical welfare of every 
student, striving to correct as far as possible 
all physical weaknesses, defects, and habits 
injurious to health, and in case of sickness 
advising and directing the best treatment. 
It is also made his duty to give lectures 
upon Hygienic Physiology, and the great 
laws of life and health ; and in order to 
preserve a sound constitution and thereby 
prevent disease, a series of gymnastic ex- 
ercises has been introduced as a part of 
the regular college duties, and every stu- 
dent, (except for physical imperfection,) is 
required to take part in them, under the 
inspection of his instructor. These exer- 
cises are so designed and varied as to 
exercise every part of the body in the most 
natural and beneficial manner. It is no part 
of the plan to develop particular muscles 
for great feats of agility and strength, but 
to train the whole body for its highest and 
most efficient action. It is intended that 
every muscle and tissue of the system shall 
be developed in harmony with every portion 
of the brain and faculty of the mind. 

By this systematic training, 't is found 
that the students accomplish far more in 
their studies, thus elevating the standard of 
scholarship in this institution, while their 
constitutions in the meantime are not broken 
down or impaired, — so that physically as well 
as mentally they are better prepared for 
the more public and responsible duties of 
after years. It is also a well known fact 
that, since the introduction of these exercises 
there has been a decided improvement in 
the health of students generally, and less 
sickness as well as mortality. 



There are two features in this de- 
partment which are peculiar and deserve 
special notice. It was established by order 
of the Trustees, after the most careful con- 
sideration, and it has always received the 
sanction of the entire Faculty. Its exer- 
cises are not only compulsory, but faithful 
attendance upon them, as well as careful 
observance of the laws of Hygiene gener- 
ally, are taken into account in making up 
the rank and scholarship of each student. 

Every year's experience has satisfied the 
officers of the College more and more of 
the great advantages derived from this de- 
partment ; and, so great has been the interest 
of the public in it, outside of the institution, 
that the number present, from time to time, 
at these exercises, has averaged each year 
over four thousand persons. And so 
hearty in the appreciation of these advan- 
tages are the students, that they would dis- 
pense with any other department in college 
sooner than that of Physical Culture, The 
true secret ot its success is found in 
the fact, that the Trustees and Faculty, from 
its commencement, have attached great im- 
portance to it, and given it character by 
making it one of the departments of the 
College. The students also deserve much 
credit for their zealous and practical en- 
dorsement of these measures. 

If such is the connection of the mind 
with the body as to render all mental de- 
velopment and acquisition greatly depend- 
ent upon the strength and condition of the 
physical system, is it not the part of wis- 
dom and duty to see, that in the training of 



youth, in the educational process, the laws 
of the mind and body should be taken into 
account ? Can any good reason be given 
why the laws of the one should be ignored 
or violated, when experience shows that 
such a course so often results in failure ? 
Are not the laws of the body a part of the 
government of God, to which we, owe alle- 
giance as much as those of the mind or 
soul ? 

Modern science, in connection with the 
most advanced views of education, is teach- 
ing us more and more every year, the im- 
portance of good health — of a sound con- 
stitution, in order to secure the highest 
success in life; and this depends very much 
upon the proper care and training of the 
body in youth. It is becoming evident that 
physical culture is yet to occupy a far more 
prominent position in all our systems of edu- 
cation than heretofore, and must ere long be 
introduced in some form, into the regular.ex- 
ercises of all our schools, seminaries, and 
higher institutions of learning. We venture 
this prediction, that in no department of edu- 
cation will there be greater improvement for 
the next fifty years, than in a more perfect 
development of the human system and har- 
mony of function, between the laws that 
govern both the mind and the body. And in 
no one thing will the history of Amherst 
College be more noted or distinguished 
than in the fact, that she took the lead in 
this great reform. 

Nathan Allen. 

Lowell, April i, 1873. 



LC Control Number 




tmp96 



026225 



r 




019 953786 6 



JjJjBRARY OF CONGRESS 

019 953 786 6 



